P&S camera: Choice is between sharper image or longer zoom?

[radhak]

My wife's old SD1100 is showing its age and needs replacing. She hates anything bulky - has to be something that fits in her pockets, so am looking at similar form factors. And of course I want to keep it closer to (or less than) $300 if possible.

I have been fascinated by the reports of the S90 and then the S95, so now seems to be a good time to check out the S100 (the S110 is costlier, and seems to be not much more that the S100).

At the same time, Costco is offer the SX280 for $329 and the Lumix ZS25 for $229, both with 20x optical zoom! From what I've read, these zooms work very well, but their image quality is not as good as the S100.

(The SX280 has seen some online kerfuffle about bad battery life indicator, but looks like Canon is posting some firmware update that solves it. Hopefully that's the end of it. Else will have to look at the SX260).

If it was for me, picture quality would be primary. My wife is more about capturing the group picture, the family at the park, etc. And I think she'd be tickled pink about that big jump in zoom.

Anybody with experience or opinion about these cameras - what do you think - is the drop in image quality substantial for me to dismiss these 'super zooms'? Or is it close enough that the zoom capability wins out?

(I could not perceive any other feature that is widely different in these cameras, but maybe I overlooked something. And of course, if you think any other camera that I overlooked is better, please let me know).

 

[Tom]

The difference isn't so much image quality as it is what they do well and why. The s100 has a faster lens, larger maximum aperture, and I believe a larger sensor, so its better in low light, which is where lots of family events take place.

The compact long zooms have long zoom ranges, great for sports, wildlife, trips to the zoo. In low light though they need to shoot at higher iso which makes for somewhat lower quality. I have a ZS19 which is close to the ZS25 and I'm satisfied with the low light quality, its not ideal for that though.

All the cameras you mention are highly regarded, particularly the S100. I would mention another camera though, the Panasonic LX7, which has an even faster lens but is a little larger.

 

[The_Dude8]

The difference isn't so much image quality as it is what they do well and why. The s100 has a faster lens, larger maximum aperture, and I believe a larger sensor, so its better in low light, which is where lots of family events take place.

The compact long zooms have long zoom ranges, great for sports, wildlife, trips to the zoo. In low light though they need to shoot at higher iso which makes for somewhat lower quality. I have a ZS19 which is close to the ZS25 and I'm satisfied with the low light quality, its not ideal for that though.

All the cameras you mention are highly regarded, particularly the S100. I would mention another camera though, the Panasonic LX7, which has an even faster lens but is a little larger.

The LX7 is not pocket friendly. I think he should go with the s100 due to the picture quality and the pocket size friendly.

 

[Tom]

I hadn't looked into the s110 until now just to see what's new. I can tell you that having a touchscreen for picking a focus point is a very nice feature to have.

And it doesn't seem much more expensive at Amazon anyway. s100 is $339, s110 is $349.

If you go with the s100 you should read about some kind of lens problem on dpreview and make sure yours doesn't have it.

 

[radhak]

Hmm, so S100 or S110, looks like - and yes, if the cost is that close, might as well get the S110. That long zoom on the others is really tempting, but I guess more for me than for what she'd be using it.

The LX7 seems to be a really fantastic camera - P&S have come a long way since I moved away from them! But the bulk will not work for her, so I'll admire it from far.

 

[Ancalagon44]

I've got the Panasonic Lumix ZS-20 and pretty happy with it - but then I am no photo buff. I did find the manual controls useful though - took some night exposures with it, that I could not have with my previous camera, which was a Lumix TZ-5 (not sure of the American name)

 

[monstercameron]

Get a cheap Olympus xz-1, slightly bulky but its got a relatively larger 10mp CCD sensor mated to a f1.8-2.5 5x zoom uber sharp zuiko lens. Its fast, has manual controls but video is less that stellar.

 

[Tom]

A couple more options..

Because of its really small size coupled with a 20x zoom, you might want to check out the Sony wx300.

 

[Midwayman]

I vote to let her go to the store and pick which model she wants. Then you don't get blamed for whatever shortcomings the camera has. If she asks, and only if she asks, provide direction, but let her make the choice. Women tend to have such different priorities in cameras that I find it better to have a his and her camera.

 

[CuriousMike]

I vote to let her go to the store and pick which model she wants.

A man with experience speaks.

 

[blastingcap]

S95 all day every day. Women often care a lot about gadget size and weight. Forget sh*tty zoom with compacts, they all use slow glass and the sensors are too small to have good performance above base ISO in anything other than bright daylight. So what is the point of all that zoom? Better the S95 and crop as necessary. Zoom with feet as necessary.

 

[shortylickens]

Depends. If I am going for a compact: image quality, you will never get much zoom anyway.
Also IQ matters because many tiny compacts have mini sensors and too high a resolution, their IQ usually stinks. I'd go for something with the proper balance. Which of course means thorough reviewing on DPreview.

If I am going for a power zoom, then obviously longer zoom. The problem is since I like my SLR so much I would no likely get a power zoom.

 

[radhak]

Well, I asked, and she was categorical - she prefers compact, and she prefers something that does not 'darken pictures indoors'. She does not know why she'd need a fast focus, because she's not the types that snaps moving people, even kids. She prefers posed pictures, but shoots a lot of video.

So all in all, something from the S95/S100/S110 family should be good - probably the S110 because it tracks video focus, is faster and not that different in cost. Also good for me as I have long wanted to play around with it. I'll leave the super zooms for some other time.

Btw, the XZ-1 looks like an awesome camera - but for the video, would have wanted to look at it.

Btw, here's a site that neatly compares any two cameras head-to-head : http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-Powershot-S110-vs-Olympus-XZ-1

 

[monstercameron]

Well, I asked, and she was categorical - she prefers compact, and she prefers something that does not 'darken pictures indoors'. She does not know why she'd need a fast focus, because she's not the types that snaps moving people, even kids. She prefers posed pictures, but shoots a lot of video.

So all in all, something from the S95/S100/S110 family should be good - probably the S110 because it tracks video focus, is faster and not that different in cost. Also good for me as I have long wanted to play around with it. I'll leave the super zooms for some other time.

Btw, the XZ-1 looks like an awesome camera - but for the video, would have wanted to look at it.

Btw, here's a site that neatly compares any two cameras head-to-head : http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-Powershot-S110-vs-Olympus-XZ-1

the best comparison on the web.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVZItn3y9SE

uber fast focus isnt for capturing movement(that's a combination of things) but the faster the camera is the more likely you are able to capture fleeting images(dont have to be fast or slow) where other cameras would lag out, effectively missing the shot.

 

[iGas]

I own the S95, and 5D mkii with 5 lenses (3 are L). And, the S95 see just as much action as the 5D mkii on vacations and parties.

Another vote for a used s90/s95/s100/s110.

 

[CuriousMike]

she prefers something that does not 'darken pictures indoors'.

This is what damn near every P&S consumer wants and continues to be frustrated when their cameras fail them.

What I find interesting is most cell-phone cameras seem tuned to auto-boost ISO to ensure a reasonable shutter speed to get a bright ( if grainy ) shot indoors, where P&S cameras continue to think "Well, the user turned off flash because my flash sucks, and it's dark in here, so obviously he wants a 3 second exposure because that's what I need" and the consumer gets a blurred photo.

 

[Tom]

the best comparison on the web.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVZItn3y9SE

uber fast focus isnt for capturing movement(that's a combination of things) but the faster the camera is the more likely you are able to capture fleeting images(dont have to be fast or slow) where other cameras would lag out, effectively missing the shot.

The XZ-1 is HUGE compared to the S110. I doubt she wants to switch out her wardrobe for all cargo pants.

Its also OLD. For video it would be up to date for 2007.

It is a great camera, the fast lens is actually fast for its whole zoom range, unlike the s100 which is fast at wide angle but get quite slow at max zoom.

But its unsuitable as something to carry in ladies' jeans.

 

[BladeVenom]

Pentaz Optio RZ18 has x18 zoom, and is $150 at Newegg right now. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830184165

 

[Itchrelief]

But its unsuitable as something to carry in ladies' jeans.

Maybe I'm not as knowledgeable about ladies and their clothing as most, but it seems that almost any camera besides a cameraphone would be unsuitable to carry in ladies' jeans.

 

[Munky]

My vote is to tell your wife that a bunch of people on the internet who know more about cameras than her said that mega zoom is a gimmick designed for people who don't need it but like having higher numbers on the spec sheet. Oh, and there are tradeoffs such as slower focus, smaller sensor, and worse image quality. Go with the s100.